20:3But Godappeared3toAbimelechin a dreamat nightand saidto him, “You are as good as dead4because of the womanyou havetaken, forsheis someone else’swife.”5

20:4Now Abimelechhad notgone nearher. He said, “Lord,6would you reallyslaughteran innocentnation?720:5Did Abraham8 notsayto me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said,9 ‘He is my brother.’ I have donethiswith a clear conscience10and with innocenthands!”

20:6Then in the dreamGodrepliedtohim, “Yes, Iknowthatyou have donethiswith a clear conscience.11That is why Ihave keptyou12 from sinningagainstme and why13I did notallowyou totouchher.20:7But nowgive backthe man’swife. Indeed14he is a prophet15and he will prayforyou; thusyou will live.16But ifyou don’tgive her back,17knowthatyou will surelydie18along with allwhobelong to you.”

20:8Earlyin the morning19Abimelechsummoned20allhis servants. When he toldthem about allthesethings,21they22were terrified.20:9AbimelechsummonedAbrahamand saidto him, “Whathave you doneto us? Whatsindid I commit against you thatwould cause you to bringsuchgreatguiltonme and my kingdom?23 You have donethings to methatshould notbe done!”2420:10Then Abimelechasked25Abraham, “Whatpromptedyou to dothisthing?”26

20:16To Sarahhe said, “Look, I have givena thousandpieces of silver34to your ‘brother.’35This iscompensationfor you so that you will stand vindicatedbeforeallwhoare withyou.”36

20:17AbrahamprayedtoGod, and GodhealedAbimelech, as well as his wifeand female slavesso that they were able to have children.20:18Forthe Lord37had causedinfertilitytostrike everywoman38 in the householdof Abimelechbecausehe took39 Sarah, Abraham’swife.